Aim: provide descriptive data about attachment, intensity of attachments, any individual differences, two measures used. 1) Stranger fear 2) separation anxiety
Procedure: longitudinal, naturalistic observation monthly follow up visit 18 months later, 60 infants, asked mothers about infants in situations of separation, mothers kept diary in 7 situations. Mothers interviewed.
Results: several stages found in attachment, asocial, indiscriminate, discriminate, multiple
Conclusion: infant emotional dependence on caregiver not related to filling in psychological needs but to responsiveness so attachments formed with those who responded accurately to signals
Evaluation: good external validity, longitudinal study, good sample size, little behaviour from infants at early stage,conflicting evidence, multiple attachments = special significance, biased mothers, also depend on personality and temperament.
Grossman
longitudinal study on both parents' behaviour and its relationship to quality of attachment.
mothers and fathers quality not related
in adolescence: father less important
father: play and stimulation
Mothers: more nurturing
Geiger
play interactions with father more exciting than mothers, mothers more affectionate
playmates > caregivers
Lamb: children prefer interacting with fathers when positive
Hrdy
fathers less able to detect low levels of distress
fathers who are main caregivers quickly develop sensitivity
Belsky
high levels of marital intimacy related to secure fathet/infant attachments
Brown et al
high levels of supportive coparenting related to secure attachments
between fathers not mothers, important for fathers
Evaluation/application
fathers/attachment research confusing- only recent
father role is secondary traditionally
Mothers instinct
same sex families, no difference
fathers not important?
parents encouraged to co parent
secure attachment with father- better with peers
fathers help reduce mothers' stress, self esteem, time away from childcare
equally sensitive
Pleck- quality > time with father
Lamb- fathers style of parenting
interaction, accessibility, responsibility
Men staying home to look after children tripled in last 15 years
Factors involving paternal involvement
Cultural factors - men considered breadwinners, involved in play, instruction and guidance
Economic factors- S. Africa men work hundreds of miles away, long hours but increase in fem. labour force
Social policies - paternal leave
Biological factors- women adapted to feed and nurture, produce oestrogen
Child- Freeman found male children prefer father as attachment and attached till late childhood/early adolescence
Temperament- Manlove found fathers less likely to be involved if child has difficult temperament
Research with father inconsistent, secondary role has ethical issues, socially sensitive